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As numerous HSA exposés have shown, the game bird industry relies on factory farming for it’s supply of 50 million birds. Lesser known is what happens to those 50 million birds after they have been shot. This footage taken by hidden cameras shows exactly what is happening. A coalition of anti hunt and anti badger cull activists (Hunt Saboteurs Association, Stop the Cull and West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs), have come together to use their expertise with covert filming, to reveal a dump of pheasants killed at a game shoot. In 2013 it was estimated that a shocking 10,000 ton of pheasants were being dumped every year, that was based on 15 million birds being killed. Savills Game Shooting review last year indicated a much lower price per bird shot, we believe this reflects the huge increase in numbers of birds being shot over the last 5 years.

Jay Tiernan, spokesperson for Stop the Cull said: “From watching and listening to people involved in game shooting, it has become obvious that very few people within the industry are prepared to accept that the majority of birds being shot are not making it to the table. Perhaps it is a guilty secret? Whatever the reasoning, it is something that anti bloodsports activists are particularly interested in exposing. Small hidden cameras are becoming cheaper and easier to use, so those involved in the industry should expect to come under closer and closer scrutiny by activists, and in turn by the wider public. Whilst no one in the grassroots animal rights community would condone any killing of game birds, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the big bag shoots (where hundreds of birds are shot per day) are the main perpetrators of this heinous waste of life. It certainly can’t be said, when killing a pheasant on these now common large scale shoots, that it’s “one for the pot”.”

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated:

"This footage proves the lie that shooting has anything to do with conservation. Game birds are factory farmed in huge numbers purely to be shot in big bag shoots. Shooting is a bloodsport and nothing more. As we receive more and more information about them via our tip off line we expect disruption of shoots by local hunt saboteur groups to increase."

Footage has been passed to the Hunt Saboteurs Association showing members of the Kimblewick Hunt releasing a captive fox to be chased and killed by the hunts hounds. Their actions not only cause unnecessary harm to the fox but are also carried out to facilitate illegal hunting.

The footage was filmed on New Years Day when the hunt met at Moreton, Thame, Oxon. It shows the hunt terrier men using draining rods to force the fox, that they’ve been holding captive, out of a drainage pipe then being thrown into the wood for hounds to chase. The terriermen can clearly be heard communicating with the huntsman agreeing when the best time is to release the fox which is given a brief head start so that the hunt riders experience a chase rather than a quick kill.

Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “Incidents like this prove time and again that hunts throughout the UK are still totally focused on hunting and killing live animals. In recent years the South Herefordshire, the Middleton, the Pytchley, the Belvoir and now the Kimblewick have all been implicated in keeping captive foxes to hunt, showing that this behaviour is commonplace amongst hunts.

Even with this concrete proof of illegal hunting, on one of the most high profile days in the hunting calendar, we expect the MFHA to do nothing. Unless they immediately suspend the Kimblewick it’s an admission that this kind of activity is still commonplace amongst their member hunts and considered totally acceptable in the hunting community.

In 2018 the Kimblewick killed 97 of their hounds due to an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis at their kennels. It beggars belief that hunts are still willing to maraud across the countryside putting both their hounds and other animals at risk of infection.

After viewing the video Chris Williamson, Labour MP for Derby North, and a former hunt saboteur, said: "Hunts up and down the country are routinely flouting the hunting ban.

"This arrogant disregard for the law of the land can only be stopped if the loopholes in the legislation are removed.

“That is why Labour have recently pledged to strengthen the Hunting Act and ghastly incidents like this underpins that commitment.

"Tougher penalties are essential, including prison sentences for persistent offenders, if we are to deliver the wildlife protection that parliament voted for over 14 years ago."

Note for editors:

On New Years Day the hunt met in Moreton, Thame, Oxon.

The Kimblewick's Master huntsman is Andrew Sallis and the kennel huntsman is Robert Truscott. Either may have been hunting them when this incident took place.

In the video the hunt terriermen can be seen forcing a fox out of an artificial earth using drain rods.

Mark Vincent (on the Left) can clearly be heard talking to the huntsman on his phone agreeing when is the best time to release the fox.

Once the hounds are close the fox is thrown into the wood for hounds to chase. The fox is given a head start as the hunt are aiming to provide a chase for their supporters to enjoy.

When the hounds arrive they are encouraged on by both the terriermen and the huntsman in the background.

Vincent can be heard saying the fox has gone into thick undergrowth but the hounds will “work him out”

Mark Vincent is mentioned in the Kimblewick Hunt newsletter as a local event co-ordinator

Hunt saboteurs have been attacked by both the East Kent with West Street and the Ashford Valley Tickham fox hunts this morning. A supporter of the East Kent has been arrested for GBH after a sab was hospitalised with a suspected broken eye socket.

Demonstrations had taken place at the East Kent’s hunt meet at their kennels in Elham, moved there from the center of the village due to pressure from locals, and at the Ashford Valley’s meet in Tenterden. In Elham there were over 100 demonstrators, and only 40 hunt riders. Kent police had turned up in force to keep the groups apart.

After the hunt had left, a group of drunken hunt supporters attacked the sabs and their vehicle as they tried to leave (all attackers had been drinking with the hunt at the kennels earlier, and had made threats of violence to demonstrators). During the attack, a sab was thrown in front of a passing car which was deliberately swerved at him, and then punched & kicked repeatedly by two or more men, causing significant injuries to his face.

Luckily as more hunt support turned up to continue the attack, the police arrived, and arrested one of the perpetrators but others fled the scene.

Video of the attack has been passed to Kent Police, and more arrests are expected in due course.

Meanwhile in Tenterden a 19 year old and a female demonstrator were both punched in the face by jeering drunken hunt supporters, and anti-hunt demonstrators had to be escorted to safety by the police (who only provided two officers!). A band that had turned up to play at the demo were attacked and had their equipment destroyed. One supporter was arrested at the scene.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “Even on their highest profile day, when the eyes of the world are on them, the hunting community can’t control themselves. Frustrated that public opinion is turning more and more against them and they’re no longer welcome at their traditional high profile Boxing Day meets they resort to violence against those who oppose them. These injuries pictured here are the reality of Boxing day hunts rather than the chocolate Box images distributed by the Countryside Alliance and their supporters.

The Surrey Union killed a fox today from their meet at Luykns House, Ewhurst.

In the early afternoon the hunt were hunting around Peaslake when their hounds rioted. The pack were split through the village and run amok in peoples gardens. Whilst sabs stopped half the pack who were chasing a deer some other hounds came upon a fox in thick undergrowth and killed it. Sabs were close at hand but were unable to get to the hounds in time.

The Surrey Union have been given a license by the National Trust to hunt at Polesden Lacey next Saturday and also on the 2nd January.

Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: It isn't possible for packs of foxhounds to be let loose in the countryside without killing wildlife. Huntsmen put their hounds into areas they know they're likely to find foxes then cry accident when they kill. The National Trust clearly condone the murder of this fox. The only way they can prove otherwise is by withdrawing the upcoming licenses for the Surrey Union to hunt at Polesden Lacey.

Whilst working against the badger cull in Somerset, a group of hunt saboteurs came across shocking practices at Henley Grove Farm near Bruton. Large numbers of male calves were taken from their mothers, killed and dumped in piles just metres from the public footpath running through the farm. All this because they cannot produce milk and so were of no benefit to the farm.

The calves were collected by a kennel-hand from the South and West Wilts Hunt, who feed them to their hounds. The hunt worker was filmed collecting bodies at the site on four separate occasions. This is common practice within the dairy industry as fox hunts benefit by obtaining free food for their hounds and the farm benefits by having a 'fallen stock' collection service that is often free.

Both David Bown and his son Phillip Bown (who are directors of Henley Grove Farm Limited) are no strangers to animal abuse, however, as the pair were fined in 2013 after admitting to blocking a badger sett and attempting to gas its inhabitants using their car's exhaust fumes.

According to a sign on the farm, Henley Grove Farm supplies milk to Robert Wiseman Daires, who were later taken over by Müller.

Shooters taking part in this year's horrific badger cull have also been found and prevented from shooting in the fields close to Henley Grove Farm by hunt saboteurs.

Lee Moon, the spokesperson for the HSA said; "Many forms of wildlife persecution, such as badger culling and fox hunting, have strong links with the dairy industry. Fox hunts rely on dead livestock from meat and dairy farmers as a source of free food for their hounds. By consuming dairy products (especially ones manufactured by Müller) you could inadvertently be supporting fox hunts.